Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker (rationally) steps off the Palin bandwagon, gets labelled a traitor by movement conservatives, and is now being asked by right-wing loyalists of Palin’s to “off” herself.

The fierce reaction to my column has been both bracing and enlightening. After 20 years of column writing, I’m familiar with angry mail. But the past few days have produced responses of a different order. Not just angry, but vicious and threatening.

Some of my usual readers feel betrayed because I previously have written favorably of Palin. By changing my mind and saying so, I am viewed as a traitor to the Republican Party—not a “true” conservative.

Palin’s fans say they like her specifically because she’s an outsider, not part of the Washington club. When she flubs during interviews, they identify with that too. “You see the lack of polish, we applaud it,” one reader wrote.

Of course, there’s a difference between a lack of polish and a lack of coherence. Some of Palin’s interview responses can’t even be critiqued on their merits because they’re so nonsensical. . . .

My mail paints an ugly picture and a bleak future if we do not soon correct ourselves.

The picture is this: Anyone who dares express an opinion that runs counter to the party line will be silenced. That doesn’t sound American to me, but Stalin would approve. Readers have every right to reject my opinion. But when we decide that a person is a traitor and should die for having an opinion different than one’s own, then we cross into territory that puts all freedoms at risk.

One Response to Sarah Palin and Her Ur-Fascist Followers: A Conservative Columnist Writes Against Palin and is Labelled a “Traitor” and Told She Should Commit Suicide

i hate the way our elections have taken a turn toward the nasty. a voter can not tell the truth from fiction any more. one sector seems to feel that if you disagree with the other..you have no right to think for yourself. where is the right to disagree or debate with out name calling?? i am sadden by the lack of rights people have to express their opinon. can we stop the madness?? or has washington taken over our thoughts?